OAXACA MEXPERIENCE RETREAT
oaxaca city, Mexico
I am SO excited to take you to one of the most beloved cities in Mexico!
Wednesday October 15 - Sunday October 19, 2025
Get out of your daily grind and come have a Mexperience!
This isn’t my typical rejuvenation-style Ayurveda retreat, and it’s not at all your typical Oaxaca retreat…
this one’s for the adventurous spirit who wants those extra-special cultural experiences that only a local can provide.
We’re going to soak up every drop of Oaxaca’s magic and get our hands dirty with plant dyes and exotic ingredients, venture outside the city for a picnic and hike in the enchanted Sierra Madre forest, head to the home of a local chef for a hands-on cooking class, and travel back in time for a VIP private sunset tour of the dramatic ruins of Monte Alban.
Think pink, yellow and blue colonial buildings, street art everywhere, Michelin-recognized restaurants, humble and high-end handicrafts galore, and the pulse of indigenous Mexican culture running through the city and its nearby ancient pyramids.
You will fall in love with Oaxaca City.
If you’ve been on one of my retreats, you know that I always choose magical locations and look after your wellbeing.
The same goes here…while we’re bustling around town, I’ll make sure that your Ayurvedic needs are met for rest in comfy beds and food made with only high-quality ingredients and tons of love. We’ll connect with nature, the elements, and most importantly, each other.
To keep this retreat intimate, it’s only open to 10 guests.
Here are all the fun things I have planned for you…
* Wander around the city’s magical streets and shop till you drop
* Chill in the zocalo (town square) like a local and watch the world go by
* Learn the history of the land at the ancient Monte Alban archaeological site for a VIP private sunset experience and sacred ceremony
* Play with plants and dye your own silk scarf using local medicinal herbs in a plant-dying workshop
* Put your apron for a market tour and Mexican cooking class in the home of one of Oaxaca’s best female chefs
* Dine at Casa Oaxaca, one of the top restaurants in town
* Forest bathe and enjoy a picnic in the enchanted Sierra Madre mountains
* Enjoy a one-of-a-kind lunch at a surprise spot (!)
“This was my second Mexican retreat with Julie…she always attracts a warm and thoughtful group who quickly feel like friends (if that’s something you’re interested in; Julie makes space for everyone to keep to themselves, also). Julie is truly a rare and perfect blend of grace, sunshine, wisdom, and humor, and I look forward to our next retreat with her. Also – she always finds beautiful retreat venues / places which I never would find on my own.”
Joan P.
The Location
Oaxaca City is located in the south of Mexico, nestled in a valley of the Sierra Madre del sur Mountains.
The altitude is 5,000 feet making for warm days and wonderfully cool nights.
The airport is just 30 minutes away and easy to get to.
There are even direct flights from LA and Houston!
“Within just 5 days, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt, rejuvenated and ready to face anything in my every day life.”
Soody Sharifi
Our Home in Oaxaca
We’re staying on my very favorite street in Oaxaca…you’ll soon see why! It will be your oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Our homes for the retreat are Casa Rufina and La Casa Carlota—literally next door to one another, and both are completely ours during our stay.
You’ll have your own private room and private bathroom.
When you’re feeling social, you’ll find plenty of cozy corners for lounging and chatting with your new friends.
There’s also a rooftop plunge pool in case you’re a mermaid and need to take a dip during the retreat!
Private rooms in casa rufina
Casa Rufina is a stunning private home with six bedrooms on three floors.
Each private room has a queen or king bed, its own bathroom, and air conditioning.
Whether you stay in Casa Rufina or right next door at La Casa Carlota, you can come here to hang out in the lounge spaces or to take a dip in the rooftop plunge pool. There’s a kitchen with a coffee maker to enjoy a cuppa when you wake up.
PRIVATE ROOMS in la casa carlota
Right next door to Casa Rufina is Casa Carlota, a lovely B&B with five rooms.
Each private room has a queen or king bed, its own bathroom, air conditioning, and a coffee maker.
It also has a rooftop with a great view.
We’ll meet here for meals here in the open-air dining space.
“I am struggling to find the right words to describe the depth of my experience. I think it’s about the combination: people, location, being disconnected from the world. All of this combined created a safe space for my thoughts and worries to surface and then fall away.”
Natasha Yaroshenko
The Food
Ohhhh the food. You’re in for a treat!
As you know I value quality food and like to feed you well.
Our private chef, Tamara, will be feeding us when we’re eating “at home”.
She’s all about plant-forward meals using locally-sourced organic ingredients. Tamara highlights the flavors of Mexico while adding her own contemporary Tamara twist.
And because it would be wrong to NOT eat out in Oaxaca City, eat out we shall!!
We’ll let our Ayurvedic hair down and eat on the town for a couple meals…just enough to indulge while still keeping our digestion happy.
“This retreat was honestly everything that I needed to reset & reconnect with myself & my body. Julie is so knowledgeable & her approach to ayurveda is so gentle. She truly has a gift for facilitating beautiful experiences & attracting the loveliest souls into her orbit. I will never forget this experience & the connections that I’ve made.”
Mackenzie Devlin
This retreat is for you if…
You have an adventurous spirit
You already know you love Mexico and want to experience even more
You haven’t yet met Mexico or its culture and can’t wait
You’re excited to get off your screens, out of your daily grind, and into an alternate reality for a few days
You can’t wait to work with your hands and reconnect to your childlike spirit
You can go with the flow in case not all goes to plan (our plan is that it all will go to plan, but travel can bring the unexpected!)
You’re ready to put your walking shoes on enjoy full days of activites
You’re looking forward to making new friends
Traveling with an Ayurvedic overlay is just your style
“The retreat with Julie was exceptional! Everyday detail was well thought out and each day brought a new experience. Julie created a loving and warm atmosphere of community. The chance to be with like-minded women was fabulous. There was such an expanse of emotion and support at all levels.”
Jean Vaughn
the schedule
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
2pm - Arrival, Check In & Snack
5pm - Welcome Circle
7pm - Dinner
THURSDAY - SATURDAY
Adventures! Every day will be a little bit different, but in general we’ll start with breakfast at 8am, a morning activity, lunch around 1, an afternoon adventure, and dinner around 7/8.
We’ll venture out of town for our plant dye workshop, forest bathing excursion, and trip to Monte Alban.
Our days will be quite packed. I want us to get the most out of our time in Oaxaca! So get ready to put on your walking shoes and be an adventurous, energetic tourist.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
8am - Breakfast
9am - Closing Circle
10am - Shared Vans Depart
Meet Your Host
This is the eighth retreat that I’m hosting here in Mexico! I’ve been living here for over four years and had made about 40 trips here before that.
In fact, I live not too far away from Oaxaca City and visit whenever I need to get out of my small town and get a dose of culture, gourmet food, and an excuse to drink hot chocolate.
This time I’m bringing you with me!
I love this country, and I’m thrilled you’re coming here to visit. There is something so energetically special about this land. You can feel an ancient and even India-like depth, and at the same time a lovely laid-back vibe and cultural warmth that lets you slow down and feel like a human again.
I can’t wait for you to join me.
“This is the 3rd retreat I have taken with Julie – each one has restored my soul in ways I couldn’t have imagined prior to the retreat. I always depart the retreats revitalized and refreshed. It’s the self care I need for me – and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Ann S.
The Details : Please Read!
-
You will fly into OAX (Oaxaca City Airport).
From there, you will take one of our shared vans to our hotels, which is part of the retreat package.
The ride between the airport and the retreat center is about 30 minutes.
There will be 2 options for shared vans on arrival and departure day. While final times will be adjusted once I have everyone’s flight information, I currently anticipate that they will be more or less at 2pm and 6:30pm on arrival day (Wednesday October 15), and around 10am on departure day (Sunday October 19).
**In case your flight time is outside of these windows or if you’d like to add an extra day to your trip, you can take a private taxi from the airport. It will be your responsibility to cover this cost.**
I recommend you arrive one day early (Oct 14) to have time to settle in and orient yourself. You can stay the night at La Casa Carlota or a nearby hotel; I can give you recommendations with great options as well as restaurants, galleries and shops to check out during your extra day!
I am happy to help you look for flights—just email me!
-
All bookings will be processed through WeTravel. A $600 nonrefundable deposit is required to book.
You can pay the remainder in full or with a payment plan. Final payment is due September 1, 2025.
All deposits are 100% non-refundable. You may cancel your reservation up to August 15 and receive a full refund of the amount paid, minus the $600 deposit. There will be no refunds thereafter for any reason. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your personal security.
While I try to be as compassionate as I can in my cancellation policy, as a retreat leader I have to protect the financial and time investments that I make to create these experiences and so, the deposit and cancellation policy are black and white.
Hence, I encourage you to book with the full intention of attending, and highly recommend purchasing a cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance policy to cover your costs in case you can’t make it.
In the event that the retreat has to be canceled due to a force majeure, I will reschedule the retreat and your payments will be applied toward the new retreat date.
-
I know that you’ll book this retreat with the intention of attending, but the unexpected does happen, which is why I HIGHLY recommend purchasing international travel/medical insurance for you trip, flight cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses, and emergency evacuation expenses.
The most comprehensive insurance is generally a Cancel for Any Reason policy, which needs to be purchased within a few days of your trip purchase. Insuremytrip.com has several options but please be sure to read cancellation policies carefully before purchasing.
-
Americans do not need a visa for Mexico—just a passport with at least 6 months validity at the time of travel.
Please check the visa requirements for your nationality.
-
I recommend you arrive one day early (October 14) to have time to settle in and orient yourself before the retreat starts on October 15.
You can stay the night at La Casa Carlota or a nearby hotel; I can give you recommendations with great options as well as restaurants, galleries and shops to check out during your extra day!
“Thank you Julie for hosting another beautiful retreat, for sharing your incredible knowledge, and for bringing together such a wonderful group of people. So much fun, and so enlightening, as always. I left feeling so much lighter.”
James W.
Room Options & Pricing
Come solo or bring a friend! Everyone gets their own private room and bathroom.
To keep this retreat intimate, it’s only open to 10 guests.
Private Room in Casa Rufina: $2590
Private Room in Casa Carlota: $2490
Reserve your spot with an $600 deposit. Payment plans available.
Deposits are non-refundable for any reason; please carefully read the Payment Policy above before booking.
Questions? Contact Julie at hello@trueayurveda.com.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
*Pre-journey travel support
*4 nights/5 day stay at Casa Rufina or La Casa Carlota
*Airport transfers at the designated times
*All meals and drinks: wholesome, locally-sourced breakfasts, lunches and dinners
*VIP private tour to Monte Alban with a sacred ceremony. We’ll have the whole place to ourselves, thanks to Coyote Aventuras
*Gourmet dinner at Casa Oaxaca
*A surprise one-of-a-kind lunch on the town
*Hands-on cooking class with one of Oaxaca’s best female chefs
*Plant-dye workshop with a silk scarf you’ll take home
*Forest bathing, mini-hike and picnic in the Sierra Madre forest with Coyote Aventuras
*My Oaxaca Google Maps list with all the best boutiques and restaurants in town
NOT INCLUDED
*Airfare
*Travel insurance
*Tips for hotel staff and tours (at your discretion, always appreciated)
“This is my third retreat with Julie. Julie heals from the heart. She loves what she does and fully immerses herself in each and every practice she shares. Relaxed and open is how I describe Julie's retreats and any time shared with her.”
Julie M.